February 1, 2017
Inside Health, a publication by Rush University Medical Center, recently featured Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush spine physician Dr. Matthew Colman in a story called ‘Custom-Fitted Spine Implants.' The article explained that custom fit is the key when it comes to spinal implant rods, which an estimated 38,000 people need each year. This need is especially great for people who have a spinal deformity such as scoliosis, which causes the spine to twist and turn into complex and sometimes dangerous positions.
Correcting this deformity involves moving a distorted spine into a different position, which can be difficult. To accomplish it, surgeons attach metal rods to the bones surrounding the spinal column in order to support and straighten the spine.
Matthew Colman, MD, has begun using patient-specific rods in reconstructive surgery — giving patients with spinal deformities implants designed to fit their anatomy perfectly. An assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at Rush University Medical Center, Colman is one of few spinal surgeons in the world who also specializes in spine cancer treatment and was one of the first doctors in Chicago to use these patient specific rods.
